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OVC Releases Vision 21: Transforming Victim Services Final Report

The Office for Victims of Crime is pleased to announce the release of the Vision 21: Transforming Victim Services Final Report, the first comprehensive assessment of the crime victim assistance field in nearly 15 years. The Vision 21 initiative gave participants the opportunity to engage with a broad spectrum of service providers, advocates, criminal justice professionals, allied practitioners, and policymakers to address crime victim issues through a lens broader than their everyday work.

The result of this collective examination is the Vision 21: Transforming Victim Services Final Report (PDF 1.2 mb), which discusses:

Major challenges to the integration of research into victim services.
The tremendous need for crime victims to have access to legal assistance to address the wide range of legal issues that can arise following victimization.
The impact of advances in technology, globalization, and changing demographics on the victim assistance field.
The capacity for serving victims in the 21st century and some of the infrastructure issues that must be overcome to reach that capacity.

OVC TTAC Web Site Offers Improved Features

OVC’s Training and Technical Assistance Center Web site has a new look. It has been updated and reorganized so you can easily navigate to training and technical assistance resources and professional development opportunities. Visit the OVC TTAC Web site today to take advantage of the new look and navigation.

June 15th Is World Elder Abuse Day

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, recognized on June 15, 2013, is a call-to-action for individuals, organizations, and communities to raise awareness about elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. In commemoration of the 8th annual World Elder Abuse Day, learn how you can take a stand in the fight against elder abuse by visiting the National Center on Elder Abuse, U.S. Administration on Aging Web site and making use of the following OVC Resources:

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2013. Take a stand against Elder Abuse. Year of Elder Abuse Prevention

In Their Own Words: Domestic Abuse in Later Life: This 2-part DVD and Resource Guide covers what victim services providers and other professionals need to know about the dynamics of domestic abuse in later life, the barriers these victims have to overcome, and the justifications that abusers use to excuse such abuse.
Responding to Elder Abuse Video DVD Series: These 3 DVDs address what community corrections, judges and court personnel, and law enforcement should know about elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

More information can be found in our Elder Abuse/Mistreatment section on OVC.gov and in the Elder Abuse Special Feature section of the National Criminal Justice Reference Service site (NCJRS).

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Month

Each year, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month is commemorated in June. OVC encourages victim service providers to rededicate themselves to serving LGBT victims who often do not have consistent access to services to help them recover in the aftermath of a crime. As a result, LGBT victims suffer disproportionately from violence and its effects.

To assist the field, OVC hosted a Web Forum on Incorporating LGBTQ Victims’ Needs into Mainstream Victim Services on June, 5 at 2:00 p.m. (Eastern). View the transcript from the Session for information about the discussion between the field and the Guest Hosts, Robin Parker, Executive Director of the Beyond Diversity Resource Center, and Sharon Stapel, Executive Director of the New York City Anti-Violence Project. Visit the LGBTQ section of our site for additional resources.

June Is National Internet Safety Month

While computers and mobile devices bring enormous benefits, they can also enable criminal activity that exploits this interconnectivity. National Internet Safety Month serves as a reminder of these risks and encourages the public to learn more about computer security, how to minimize the potential risks of Internet activities, and how to keep children safe online. Visit the Computer/Internet Crimes section of our site and the National Criminal Justice Reference Service’s Internet Safety Special Feature for prevention resources along with information about what you can do if you become the victim of cybercrime.

Previously Featured Resources

May 2013: National Crime Victims’ Service Recipients
April 2013: National Crime Victims’ Rights Week: April 21–April 27, 2013
March 2013: March 19-23, 2013, Is National Youth Violence Prevention Week
February 2013: February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month
January 2013: National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month
December 2012: National Impaired Driving Prevention Month
November 2012: National American Indian Heritage Month
October 2012: Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) Commemorated in October
September 2012: Commemorating National Campus Safety Awareness Month
August 2012: Support for Oak Creek, Wisconsin and Aurora, Colorado, Shooting Victims
July 2012: National Probation, Parole, and Community Supervision Week
June 2012: National Internet Safety Month. World Elder Abuse Day. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Month
May 2012: OVC’s Online Gallery Presents Portraits of the 2012 Awardees